Battery-powered fuel data collection unit

Abstract

A battery-powered fueling data collection unit for use with a meter and a register associated with a fuel transfer apparatus and for use with a system for managing fueling transactions of a fleet operator using fuel transfer apparatuses at multiple locations includes a fueling data interface module for receiving fueling information from the fueling meter and/or register and an internal battery power source. A processor is provided for monitoring the power level in the battery and for detecting if the power level in the battery drops below a threshold amount. Also, a communications module is provided for wirelessly forwarding an alert to a remote computer to alert the remote computer that the battery power is low.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A battery-powered fueling data collection unit for use with a meter and a register associated with a fuel transfer apparatus and for use with a system for managing fueling transactions of a fleet operator for fueling multiple vehicles at multiple locations, using fuel transfer apparatuses at multiple locations, the fueling data collection unit being adapted to work with both digital and mechanical fuel meters/fuel registers, the fueling data collection unit comprising:
 a fueling data interface module for receiving fueling information from the fueling meter and/or register, and including a serial input port for receiving electronic signals from a digital fuel meter/digital fuel register and further including one or more pulse input ports for receiving pulses from a pulse transmitter associated with a mechanical fuel meter/mechanical fuel register; 
 a battery power source; 
 a processor for monitoring the power level in the battery and for detecting if the power level in the battery drops below a threshold amount; and 
 a communications module for wirelessly forwarding an alert to a remote computer to alert the remote computer that the battery power is low. 
 
     
     
       2. The battery-powered fueling data collection unit of  claim 1  wherein pulses are directly integrated using a message protocol. 
     
     
       3. The battery-powered fueling data collection unit of  claim 1  wherein temperature and density inputs are used to calculate a net volume of fuel delivered. 
     
     
       4. The battery-powered fueling data collection unit of  claim 1  wherein the communications module communicates wirelessly with a local hand-held computer device. 
     
     
       5. The battery-powered fueling data collection unit of  claim 1  wherein the communications module wirelessly forwards an alert to a remote computer via a local computing device to alert the remote computer that the battery power is low. 
     
     
       6. The battery-powered fueling data collection unit of  claim 1  wherein the communications module communicates wirelessly via cellular. 
     
     
       7. The battery-powered fueling data collection unit of  claim 1  wherein the communications module communicates wirelessly via Wi-Fi. 
     
     
       8. The battery-powered fueling data collection unit of  claim 1  wherein the communications module communicates wirelessly via Bluetooth. 
     
     
       9. The battery-powered fueling data collection unit of  claim 1  wherein the fueling data collection unit monitors the maintenance status of the fuel transfer apparatus and is operable for communicating the monitored maintenance status to a remote computer by relaying it through a local computing device. 
     
     
       10. A battery-powered fueling data collection unit for use with a meter and a register associated with a fuel transfer apparatus and for use with a system for managing fueling transactions of a fleet operator for fueling multiple vehicles at multiple locations, using fuel transfer apparatuses at multiple locations, the fueling data collection unit comprising:
 a fueling data interface module for receiving fueling information from the fueling meter and/or register; 
 a battery power source; 
 a processor for monitoring the power level in the battery and for detecting if the power level in the battery drops below a threshold amount; and 
 a communications module for wirelessly forwarding an alert to a remote computer to alert the remote computer that the battery power is low; and 
 wherein the fueling data collection unit monitors the maintenance status of the fuel transfer apparatus and is operable for communicating the monitored maintenance status to a remote computer by relaying it through a local computing device and 
 
       wherein the fueling data collection unit monitors the maintenance status of one or more fuel filters in the fuel transfer apparatus by monitoring fuel pressures upstream and downstream of the filter(s) to determine whether the filter(s) is clogged and needs to be replaced. 
     
     
       11. The battery-powered fueling data collection unit of  claim 1  wherein the fueling data collection unit is operative to monitor the functioning status of the fuel transfer apparatus and is operable for communicating the monitored functioning status to a remote computer by relaying such through a local computing device. 
     
     
       12. The battery-powered fueling data collection unit of  claim 1  wherein the fleet operator operates a fleet of aircraft which are fueled at spaced apart airports and wherein at some of the airports mechanical fuel meters/mechanical fuel registers are employed, at others of the airports digital fuel meters/digital fuel registers are employed, and at others of the airports a mix of mechanical and digital fuel meters/fuel registers are employed, with the battery-powered fueling data collection units being adapted to work with mechanical, digital, or a mix of fuel meters/registers. 
     
     
       13. The fueling data collection unit as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the communications module is used to download updated firmware and/or software from a remote computer relayed through a local computing device. 
     
     
       14. The fueling data collection unit as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the communications module is used to communicate fueling data to and from a remote computer relayed through a local computing device. 
     
     
       15. The fueling data collection unit as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the communications module is used to communicate operating conditions of the fueling operation and fueling data to a remote computer relayed through a local computing device. 
     
     
       16. A battery-powered fueling data collection unit for use with a meter and a register associated with a fuel transfer apparatus and for use with a system for managing fueling transactions of a fleet operator for fueling multiple vehicles at multiple locations, using fuel transfer apparatuses at multiple locations, the fueling data collection unit comprising:
 a fueling data interface module for receiving fueling information from the fueling meter and/or register; 
 a battery power source; 
 a processor for monitoring the power level in the battery and for detecting if the power level in the battery drops below a threshold amount; and 
 a communications module for wirelessly forwarding an alert to a remote computer to alert the remote computer that the battery power is low, and wherein the fueling data collection unit monitors the maintenance status of one or more fuel filters in the fuel transfer apparatus by monitoring fuel pressures upstream and downstream of the filter(s) to determine whether the filter(s) is clogged and needs to be replaced. 
 
     
     
       17. The fueling data collection unit as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the communications module communicates fuel custody transfer quantities and non-fuel data. 
     
     
       18. The fueling data collection unit as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the non-fuel data includes one or more of maintenance status of the fuel transfer apparatus, operating status of the fuel transfer apparatus, and power status of the fueling data collection unit.